Interview with Ellen
2.2 A Reign with Purpose
Interview with: Ellen
Her Blog: The Reign of Ellen
URL: thereignofellen.blogspot.com
Her initial purpose: to share her cartoons and to connect with other media junkies
Things to note when you visit: the open spirit of community; the royal gallery; the multiple kinds of interactivity; the connection between Ellen and her readers; how the open, friendly, design supports the concept; the special features and unique ideas
Ellen had been blogging for almost two years, when she decided it was time for a new beginning. That’s how The Reign of Ellen came to be.
How did you decide on a name for the new blog?
I’ve actually been blogging for several years. My former blog was Sugar In The Raw. After I had my daughter last February, I decided that I wanted a fresh start. On my old blog, I had just written a post about taking over the finances from my spendy husband. I was calling the new financial regime, “The Reign of Ellen.” One of my readers suggested that would be a good name for a blog, and so I yoinked the idea.
What made you start the new blog?
I feel like I’ve had two eras of blogging, each with a different focus.
Sugar In The Raw was simply an online journal of my life. I’ve probably filled up about fifty journals since I was 16 years old, and blogging was an extension to that habit.
With The Reign of Ellen, I wanted to create an “Ellen playground” I wanted a place to share my cartoons with other moms, to get feedback . . . and crack jokes with other media junkies.
From Sugar in the Raw to The Reign of Ellen, Ellen’s purpose for blogging shifted. It went from maintaining an online journal to sharing her cartoons and her sense of humor with other moms and media junkies.
Do you think that Ellen is meeting her purpose of making a playground to share with like minded readers?
Like-minded readers . . . what do you have in common with your readers? Is your purpose their purpose? Should it be? When should you and your readers have a common purpose? When should you have a purpose different from your readers?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
